Retired soldier gunned down in Pagadian City

PAGADIAN CITY — A newly-retired member of the Philippine Army was shot to death by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen at Purok Bethlehem, Barangay Banale, Pagadian City Monday afternoon.

Supt. Alvin Saguban, chief of the Pagadian City Police Station, identified the retired soldier as Mario Fernando Piga, 55 years old and resident of the said barangay and currently an ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) instructor of Josefina H. Cerilles State College, this city.

Saguban said Piga was washing plates outside his house a few meters from the main gate when two unidentified gunmen arrived from behind and shot him using short firearms.

Piga had several gunshot wounds and was taken by his son and neighbors to the Hofeliña Hospital on a tricycle but was declared dead on arrival.

Investigators recovered from the crime scene 12 shells for .45-caliber ammunition, a deformed slug and a deformed metal jacket.

Investigators have yet to determine the motive of the incident. /atm